aggression

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Image courtesy of Oritslama @ Pixabay

While some dog breeds barely require any grooming at all, others need this very regularly, and they don't all enjoy having this done.

So, how do you groom an aggressive dog?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind...

Learn the Dog's Triggers

Dogs are aggressive for different reasons.

For most dogs, the reason behind their aggression will be fear. This means that it is up to you to eliminate that fear if you want to groom an aggressive dog.

How do you remove that fear?

You need to take things slow.

Begin by giving the dog time to get used to you, as well as your touch. You can do this by slowly running your hands over their body, paying particular attention to sensitive areas.

Once the dog is happy with you touching him, you can then start to introduce some of your grooming tools. Let the dog have a good sniff of these first. Then, run them gently over the dog's body, making sure that the tools are turned off.

Use these tools to pet the dog, and give the dog a treat each time he does not react. Ideally, you should be treating the dog throughout the whole process.

What should you do if the dog is still uncomfortable?

Stop, and take a step back.

This whole process of acclimatizing a dog to being groomed can take weeks. This can seem frustrating, but it is so much better to spend this time encouraging the dog's comfort, rather than forcing the dog into a negative situation.

Restraints, Muzzles and Medication

You are probably thinking...

What if I don't have weeks to acclimatize a dog to the grooming process?

This is common, especially when it comes to rescue dogs who are in a bad way with their coats.

Well, in these cases, you will need to use restraints and muzzles.

Now, most groomers already use restraints on their grooming tables. These help to keep dogs still while they are being groomed, ensuring that the result is neat and even and that the dog doesn't run the risk of being cut by the clippers or scissors.

However, when trying to groom an aggressive dog, you will likely need a few extra restraints, as well as a muzzle.

You should always be careful when muzzling an aggressive dog, once again taking this as slow as possible. The muzzle you use is important too – it should be one that still allows the dog to pant, drink and accept treats, but should not enable the dog to bite. The muzzle should also be the right size for the dog – a muzzle that is too big or too small can result in even more discomfort and injury for the dog, which will only make him act more aggressively.

Try not to leave the muzzle on for too long. After all, you want to try to build up positive associations with the grooming process as much as possible.

Is the muzzle not helping you to groom an aggressive dog?

In very serious cases, you may need to turn to medication, usually in the form of a sedative.

However, this is something that should only be done under the advice of a vet.

Long-Handled Grooming Tools

Grooming tools are available in so many different shapes and sizes, with many of these featuring long handles. These are most commonly found in the form of combs and brushes.

These long-handled tools are perfect when trying to groom an aggressive dog. They allow you to reach those sensitive spots while keeping your hand far enough away to ensure that you don't end up bitten.

Don't forget...

You will still need to spend some time at the beginning allowing the dog to sniff your long-handled tools. This will make him much more receptive to the tools touching his body.

Short Grooming Sessions

Trying to groom an aggressive dog can be difficult, especially since you need to try to keep the experience as positive as possible.

One way to do this is by keeping the grooming sessions short and sweet.

You don't need to do a full groom the first time around – instead, pick an area of the dog and focus on getting that part groomed. This could be the face, the paws, the stomach, or anywhere else.

Make sure that you end each grooming session on a positive note. This usually involves plenty of praise and treats.

The more you do this, the more you will notice that the dog becomes increasingly receptive to the grooming process with each session.

Enlist the Help of an Assistant

You don't have to do it alone when trying to groom an aggressive dog.

In fact, finding someone to help you can make the whole process so much easier.

Your best bet would be finding someone who has experience in handling aggressive dogs. There are certain ways in which an aggressive dog can be held by your assistant, so that you can carry out the groom without having to worry about being bitten.

However, as you can imagine, this can be dangerous unless your assistant is well-experienced in this.

Stay Firm and Calm

Dogs quickly pick up on the emotions of the people around them.

If you are feeling nervous or unsure, an aggressive dog will take advantage of this, and will likely intimidate you even more.

While it may be difficult, it is so important that you remain firm and calm throughout the whole process.

What should you do if you are feeling nervous?

Take yourself out of the situation and give yourself a few minutes to calm down. Only return to the dog once you are feeling confident again.

If you can't seem to find that confidence, you may need someone else to do the grooming for you.

It can definitely be difficult to try to groom an aggressive dog, but it can be done. It does require plenty of behavioral knowledge, along with patience and determination, but, so long as you take things slow, it won't be long before the dog soon becomes accustomed to the grooming process.

About Alina Jumabhoy

The challenge that rescue dogs provide is something that Alina always welcomes, and she never shies away from taking in and rehabilitating troubled dogs. Alina currently has four dogs, with all of them being rescues and ranging in size from a small bichon to a large pointer cross. Alina firmly believes that every dog has their own personality, and understanding this can be key when it comes to successful training.

How to Socialize a Dog from Puppy Days to Maturity

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Courtesy: Spiritze At: Pixabay.com

All pet owners dream of being able to take their dog to a park. Allowing them to play freely with other dogs, off-leash. But, this may not be possible. For some, it's even difficult to walk their dog on the leash without them barking at or lunging towards other people and animals. Naturally, this isn't ideal. So, you may be wondering how to socialize a dog like this or even prevent this from happening to your beloved puppy. Let's take a look at some ways to socialize pets.

The Hands-On Approach

It's important that your dog becomes used to being touched and handled. This allows you to put their leash on, bath them, and pet them. It also helps your dog relax when being pet by other people or examined by the veterinarian.
Ideally, you will start handling and touching your dog when they are puppies, but you can work on this with older dogs. Don't just limit physical contact to petting their back and sides. You'll want to regularly touch their:

Ears
Muzzle
Tail
Belly
Feet and toes

Try not to scare your pet and certainly do not pinch or pull on their skin. You want this to be a gentle and comfortable experience. Otherwise, your pet may view it as a negative experience and fight or nip. This doesn't usually cause problems when they are puppies, but when an adult dog bites it can hurt.

Engage in Playtime

Start socializing your puppy from an early age by playing with him or her frequently. This is a time period when many dogs love playing, as it helps develop certain skills. So, you should have no problem engaging with your puppy.
It's also a good idea for other people and animals to play with your puppy. When they are young, they are more likely to want to be around others and not see them as potential threats. Set up playdates and visit the park as often as you can, so your furry friend learns that these are good things.

How to Socialize a Dog with Others

We've already touched a little bit on socializing your dog with others, including other dogs. But, there's much more that can be done to ensure your pet has happy and healthy interactions.

Lots of Variety

Part of socializing a pet involves exposing them to multiple environments different people, and new experiences. When your dog is younger, it's easier to do this because they are more open to new things. It's still possible to expose an old dog to a variety of environments and people. You'll just have to take it more slowly.
Make a point of introducing your pet to new people. You can actually start with those daily walks. Every time you leave the house with your pet you are bound to see someone jogging, taking a walk, working in their yard, or walking another dog. Even just seeing and hearing these other people helps your dog with exposure. Instead of taking a secluded route or keeping walks short, try to go places where you will at least see other people. Vary those walks from time to time. Take a different route every week or so. This helps keep your walks from becoming boring and continually exposes your pet to a bunch of different places and people.
If your dog can handle it, you may also want to make a point of taking him or her along with you on outings. Even if you're only planning on heading to the nearest fast food drive-thru, your pet can still take in new sights and sounds in the car with you.

Be Calm and Relaxed

When you aren't certain how your dog will react to others, you may tense up without realizing it. However, your dog will notice. Pets pay a lot of attention to their human's body language. When you are tense, it can send a false signal to the dog that there's something to be on guard against.
Fido may misinterpret the approach of other dogs and people as an aggressive act or something that they should be afraid of based on your body language.
Remember, keep your shoulders and back relaxed. Walk slowly and confidently with your head upright and eyes forward. And, keep the leash slack, as tension in the leash can also make your dog tense.

Problems with Dog Aggression?

After a dog matures, it's very normal for him or her to be a little stand-offish with other dogs during first introductions. It's an instinctive behavior that has helped their wolf ancestors survive in the wild. Dogs can also be possessive or territorial of their people and space too.
If the dog hasn't really been socialized, or has had a bad experience with another dog previously, the problem can be magnified. Your dog may display the following signs of aggression:

Growling
Barking
Lunging
Nipping

Should the other dog persist in greeting or trying to interact with your dog, it could escalate to a full-on fight. The best option when the signs of aggression are displayed is to quickly and calmly remove your dog from the situation.
Don't yell at your pet. Avoid making him lie down or take a submissive position when feeling threatened. This can actually make it worse. Try to keep the leash relaxed if this occurs during a walk. It may not be possible to have a relaxed leash when trying to get your dog away from another dog, but relax the leash as soon as possible. When the leash is slack it helps relax the dog faster.

Tips to Encourage Positive Interaction with Others

Now that you know the signs of aggression and what to do when it occurs, let's see what you can do to encourage positive social behavior.

Give plenty of rewards: As soon as your dog notices another dog on a walk, call his or her name to get your pet's attention. This helps change their focus. Once your pet responds, reward him or her with a small treat or other positive reinforcement.
Avoid a head-on collision: In the wild, dogs and wolves tend to approach each other from the sides rather than head-on. When you are walking a dog towards another dog it can cause discomfort and anxiety for an unsocialized pet. If you see another dog heading your way, move around that dog in a big half-circle, or else go across the street to avoid the head-on collision.
Don't hesitate to turn around: When your pet starts barking or lunging as soon as you head out the door or get to the dog park, turn right around and head back. Get back in the car or head back inside and wait until your dog calms down. Repeat as necessary until your dog knows that he won't get anywhere until he stops the bad behavior.

If you are still unsure how to properly socialize a dog, consider looking into an obedience course. The video series, Training an Untrained Dog, is a great place to start.

About Hope Hammond

Hope is an experienced pet owner and dog sitter who grew up with a beloved beagle mix, Lucy. Over the years, she has had other pets including a Bassett Hound, a cat of unknown origins, and a shy black-hooded fancy rat, simply named, Ratsky. She has also been a writer for more than ten years.

How to Groom an Aggressive Dog